cheap vs expensive HDD

[PodgePapin]

I'm looking at getting a hdd to use in my external caddy as a backup device. I won't have a lot of money to spend, somewhere around £50 mark. It doesn't really need to be super quick (but anything has to be quicker than when i transfer large amounts from my c: to d: hdd now), I would rather get a reliable one.

At present time it doesn't need to be massive either, minimum of 250gb. I've seen some cheap large drives on scan. Has anyone got a good drive they could recommend?

[Gooner5]

If your caddy uses a SATA connection then I would usually suggest a Samsung Spinpoint HDD like this one. For the 320Gb model click here.

[PodgePapin]

The 320gb drive looks similar to one i have in my pc now. My caddy can have IDE or SATA, but if i use sata hdd, i think i can only use esata connection, where as with ide i can use use or esata. And i will use caddy on older pc's so even though id rather get a sata drive, if i can't use usb then i may have to get ide for now.

What i may do is get a sata drive and use a 40gb ide drive for everyone else backup in my house, only takes a few seconds to change drives over, that way i still get to use esata.

[mightymouse]

are you sure that if you use the sata connection you can only use e-sata? i think you might even be able to use the usb.

anyway i think if you get some of the current 250 drives then the brand shouldnt make too much a difference.

[Sputnik]

You could get a Western Digital blue 320Gb for £40. Bear in mind that size for size a SATA drive will be cheaper than IDE and have use in the future.

[PodgePapin]

According to the spec of my caddy it can't do esata - ide connection. I think i'll get either a Samsung or WD drive. Does anyone know what Hitachi or Maxtor drives are like these days?

[Sputnik]

I'd only buy WD or Samsung personally.

[PodgePapin]

I must admit i have got an older 160gb Maxtor in my machine, and it isn't that good, i'll replace it soon i think, wondered if they had got any better

[PodgePapin]

I got a Seagate 500gb in the end, on a today only price, got it £44.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/500-G...ache-85-ms-NCQ

[synaesthesia]

Good show. Avoid Maxtor like the plague, although owned by Seagate they haven't changed or moved their manufacturing process and the drives still suffer as a result.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I think that the Maxtor and Seagate lines have know merged!! IIRC the lower end Seagates and Maxtors now have the same model numbers.

The OP should have got this 640gb Samsung for £49.98 delivered:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158688